Introduction
In this post I take a look at Vulf Compressor and Tupe by Goodhertz and ask the question: are these the ultimate lo-fi plugins?
Whether you make lo-fi hip hop, chill-wave or vaporware there are a growing number of lo-fi tools. Tape emulations, vinyl emulation and vintage compression, for instance.
Some of my personal favourites include:-
- Waves J37 & Lo-fi Space
- Chow DSP Chow Tape
- Arturia Tape Mello-fi
- Caelum Audio Flux Mini and Tape Cassette,
- Klevgrand DAW Cassette
- Yum Audio Lo-fi Pitch Dropout
I’ve had good results with these tools (many of them are free) but I have often wondered if there are better options.
Read on to find out more, including a secret 50% discount!
Goodhertz?
I have heard good things about Goodhertz plugins for quite some time but have always wondered what the fuss was about. However, I finally listened to some of their audio demos and decided to try them out myself.
I signed up for an account on the Goodhertz website and downloaded all of their plugins. I then activated a free 30-day trial. This is a great way to test their products before committing to purchase.
In this video, I test two plugins: Vulf Compressor and Tupe (Tube / Tape). Can they make a difference to my lo-fi tracks? And could they be the ultimate lo-fi plugins?
Watch my demo video and read on as I reveal a secret way to get a 50% discount on all Goodhertz products!
Vulf Compressor
The Vulf Compressor uses a compression algorithm from the Boss SP-303 Sampler. The hardware version of this sampler was discontinued in the mid-2000s however it has since become a collector’s item.
DJs and Producers praise the Boss SP-303 for its unique lo-fi sound. For instance, the ‘vinyl sim’ effect has been described as producing a ‘gritty but pleasing’ sound.
I was certainly very pleased with the way the Vulf Compressor handled my Lo-fi piano track (See the Video). Firstly, it tamed the harsh high-mid frequencies which made it sit nicely in the mix. Moreover, it added a unique character to the sound. This is something quite different to my other lo-fi plugins. It’s this character that undeniably sets the Vulf Compressor apart from other plugins.
Tupe
Tupe is a Tube/Tape plugin, designed to emulate the sound of vacuum tube amplification & magnetic tape.
You can use Tupe on individual instruments or as a mastering effect. Indeed, you can certainly create some interesting sounds. However, I found it was best used to subtly enhance tracks with a unique character.
Like the Vulf Compressor, you can adjust the wet/dry mix of the plugin. Consequently, you can dial in a range of sounds from gentle harmonic enhancement to completely fuzzed-out distortion and saturation.
Tupe comes with a host of great presets to get you started. Furthermore, the historical preset section has a list of song titles to choose from. These presets can help you emulate sounds from many classic tracks throughout history.
You really need to experiment with both the Vulf Compressor and Tupe. So, I highly recommend downloading a free trial of these plugins to test them yourself.
Get a Secret 50% Discount!?
So, you want to own these Goodhertz plugins but you’re not so sure about the price? How about a 50% discount to sweeten the deal?
Here’s what to do:
- Create an account with Goodhertz and download their plugins
- Activate a 30 day free trial
- Post a public video or track on SoundCloud, Instagram, or YouTube, which features the plugin
- Copy the Goodhertz plugin settings from your DAW and paste them as a URL somewhere on the page or the video description. Learn how to copy/paste Goodhertz plugin settings here.
- Send an email to music@goodhertz.com letting them know about your video
- You will receive a one-time 50%-off coupon (good for any combination of plugins, one-time per customer).
OK, so it’s not exactly a secret! For more information see the Goodhertz FAQ’s.